Consider Others

Readings:
Esther 8
Romans 15:1-6

Focus:
Romans 15:2: "Each of us must consider his neighbor and think what is for his good and will build up the common life."

We think it would be nice if we could just think of ourselves and do whatever we want. But Paul tells us that we must think of others first, and do what is for their good.

And practically speaking, we can't just please ourselves, anyway. We can't just say, "It's my life; I'll do what I want." Our actions have consequences that affect other people, whether we like it or not. If we choose to eat unhealthy food, for example, we shorten our lives, which causes grief to others, and we end up with illnesses that cause others to have to spend time caring for us.

So, on the negative side of things, it just makes sense not to think of ourselves alone. But in addition, God has asked us to think of others first. And when we do it God's way, not only thinking of others, but focusing on trying to love them, too, we end up with rewards that we might not expect. Building up the common life includes us, too, and not just others. We find that our own life is enhanced when we think of others. There are rewards that we might not want to trade for what we could have had if we had only thought of ourselves. God works that way.